Corrosion Probe, Inc. (CPI) is a specialized consulting firm designing engineering solutions for clients throughout the United States and Canada. Founded in 1984, CPI has built an international reputation for providing consulting, engineering design and technical support for equipment repairs and structural rehabilitation, corrosion control and prevention, construction management, condition assessment, and specialty nondestructive testing services to clients in the pulp and paper, chemical, pharmaceutical industries and municipal water and waste water industries. Our extensive experience and multi-disciplinary capabilities also bring solid forensic expertise in failure analysis and accident investigation. We routinely provide comprehensive inspection and quality control/quality assurance services in all the technical areas listed above and in other construction areas, including piping, pressure vessels, tanks, FRP and other plastics, protective coatings, roofing, grouting (equipment), and waterproofing. Our experienced, knowledgeable engineers and technicians successfully combine civil/structural, mechanical, metallurgical, electrical, and corrosion engineering disciplines with our extensive practical knowledge of equipment and related damage mechanisms to help our clients solve their corrosion and materials problems as practically, reliably and cost-effectively as possible.

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CPI Celebrates 30 Years of Problem Solving!

In 1984 Corrosion Probe opened its doors and began helping customers solve their most difficult corrosion and other materials degradation issues. Our consulting engineering business has grown tremendously since then, and as we look back along our path, we feel sincere gratitude toward all of our customers and business partners for the opportunities and prosperity we have enjoyed. Our team of engineers, consultants and specialists also look forward to many more years of challenging and satisfying work and to continued relationships with those who have been part of our success.

New Hire - Jonathan Rotureau

CPI is proud to announce that Jonathan Rotureau has joined CPI as an Associate Engineer in our Savannah, GA office. Jonathan had served as a part-time intern during early 2014, and will primarily be focused on supporting concrete, brick & tile-lined equipment inspections and structural assessments. He recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Structural Design. Prior to joining CPI, Jonathan worked as a field technician in an engineering consulting group, and as a maintenance crewman in the petroleum industry.

New Hire - Tim Girven

Also, CPI is pleased to announce the addition of Tim Girven to our team. Tim, a Senior Technician, will support CPI's services offering at the P&G Mehoopany, PA facility by providing mechanical planning, project, and skilled trades technical support for the papermaking operations and engineering departments. Tim has a P&G Mehoopany skilled trades and mechanical planning background. He has been on-site at multiple P&G sites both as a P&G employee and with construction contractor organizations. Tim and the CPI Team worked together at the P&G Box Elder Utah green field construction project. Most recently Tim provided skilled trades and mechanical planning support for the P&G Mehoopany 7M/8M Operating Department.

Publications and Speaking Engagements

Randy Nixon's "Issues that do not meet the eye: Design considerations for lining existing concrete tanks to hold solids" was published in the May 2014 issue of WE&T.

Dave Crowe presented an overview of "Corrosion of Stainless Steels in Organic Acids" at the meeting of STG38, Pulp, Paper and Biomass Conversion, during NACE Corrosion 2014 in San Antonio. There has been increasing interest in bioconversion processes to extract sugars and organic acids from wood using a variety of proprietary processes. Conditions may be outside of the currently established usage range of temperature, pressure and pH for stainless steels, and food purity issues may now be of concern. Corrosion behavior of 316L stainless steel for the range of organic acids was reviewed. The effect of chloride concentration may affect the corrosion behavior negatively, but has been poorly characterized. Newer steels such as duplex grades look appealing, but corrosion rate data are needed for plant design. Corrosion testing was recommended as an important component of process design and pilot plant studies.

Dave Bennett will be presenting two papers at the TAPPI PEERS Conference in September in Tacoma, covering duplex and ferritic stainless steel sheet linings and duplex stainless steel pipe procurement. He will also participate on two workshop panels dealing with painting paper machine wet ends and maintenance painting of steel structures.

Bert Schutza gave a presentation on Underground Storage Tank Corrosion Protection at the 2013 TASTP (Texas Association of Storage Tank Professionals) Seminar and Annual Meeting in December

Russell Spotten will be a presenter at the NACE Channel Islands Section's "Build A Tank in a Day Seminar in October. Russell will review the newly revised AWWA Standard D102-14, Coating Steel Water-Storage Tanks.

FEATURED PROJECTS

CPI's Rincon, GA office was contacted by a southern US pulp and paper mill to provide materials selection and oversight for the construction of a new Tall Oil Reactor and Separation Tank. Due to the hot and highly corrosive environment generated by diluting or mixing high concentration sulfuric acid, many traditional designs of tall oil reactor have suffered aggressive localized thinning, and have required frequent inspections and repairs. Through analysis of the different steps in the reaction process and experience in the chemistry involved, CPI was able to select materials for piping, the settling tank, and the reactor for different configurations requested by the client. CPI's review of the designs prevented approval of a layout that would require exotic and costly alloys or be subject to rapid failure. CPI was also involved in verifying the overall quality of the tank fabrication to ensure high standards were followed. CPI has frequently performed this type of upfront design engineering and quality verification for both metals and non-metals, particularly fiberglass reinforced plastics (FRP).

Materials Selection for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants

Over the past couple of years, CPI has been asked to investigate a number of instances in which stainless steels and aluminum alloys have suffered accelerated deterioration in water and wastewater treatment plants. The 300-series stainless steels are widely used in these environments, but are susceptible to localized corrosion and stress corrosion cracking. Their limitations should be considered carefully. CPI has considerable expertise and experience in the use of stainless steel and aluminum alloys for water and wastewater plants, and we can offer selection advice, guidance for specification and design, welding support and failure analysis

Piping System Evaluation

CPI completed a condition assessment and corrosion survey of the fire protection system piping for a major aerospace firm. The purpose of the assessment was to ensure the safety of plant personnel and protection of the very expensive, high-tech manufacturing equipment at the facility should a fire event occur. The CPI team identified two active leaks and severe corrosion on the internal surfaces of the piping in a critical assembly building; heavy corrosion on the exterior surfaces of the steel fire system pipe a few inches below the surface of the ground; and significant internal deposits that may have rendered the system ineffective in the event of a fire. This was deemed an invaluable service to the facility owner, as it uncovered certain anomalies in the fire protection system that could possibly have resulted in catastrophe at this facility where "failure is not an option".